0113 what's the plan?

My father dropped me off at SBCC in time for the 11am service. I wheeled in and found a space in the back, and was soon joined by Liz and Sheri. When opening worship started and the congregation rose to their feet, Liz made a joke about blocking my view of the screen with her body and moved sideways briefly. For a moment, I thought that all I would look at was her backside (I wouldn’t have minded), but then she moved away and I refocused on the screen (darn it).

The service opened with a dramatic sketch titled “Distractions” featuring a one-man act by Cary M, about a man who is distracted by many things on Sunday at home and is not able to find time for God. It was done very well and spoke to each one of us about how our attention is on the world around us and how easy it is for us to overlook our relationship with God.

Pastor Ken continued his series of “Keeping It Simple” with today’s installment of “What’s The Plan?” He talked about how God gets his attention when he is not focusing properly, especially when he has a disagreement with his wife. He brought up Romans 12:2 which reads, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

We need to recognize that God’s plan is His will, which is good, pleasing and perfect. But in order for to understand and appreciate it, we must renew our minds and let go of the temptations of this world which is holding us back. Many of us are still holding on too tightly to the selfishness that the world pushes on us.

He spoke about Matthew 26, where Jesus took three disciples with him to Gethsemane. Pastor Ken speaks softly and his voice is kinda hypnotic. I must have dozed off because he suddenly shouted out with emotion, as he covered verse 40, where Jesus returns and finds the three disciples asleep. He admonished them to keep watch and pray. I think I dozed off again because suddenly Pastor Ken was agitated, but now he was on verse 43, where Jesus returns again and finds them sleeping a second time. I tried my best to stay awake, in case he got to verse 45.

Fortunately, he was making a point of verse 41, which reads “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” God knows that we are easily caught off-guard and don’t recognize the danger around us. The temptations are subtle.

The service ended and after grabbing a quick snack, I met Koinonia in the Dugout for our lifegroup meeting. Sam came in and announced that he was not quite himself today, so he was going to be out of it. Little did we realize how great his recuperative powers really are, because he was true to form just about fifteen minutes later.

I also found out that when I laugh, I come close to hyperventilating. Apparently, I turn deep red to purple, and I scare my lifegroup because of it. Unfortunately, close proximity to Sam often leads to multiple laughing incidents. Plus, sitting next to Eric didn’t help.

Stephanie led us in the review and discussion of Lesson Twelve, which focused on Genesis chapters 20 and 21, which dealt with Abraham’s involvement with Abimelech, the birth of Isaac, the sending away of Hagar and Ishmael, and the treaty at Beersheba. I wasn’t feeling well last week and I apparently missed a great discussion about Genesis 19:30-38. Oh well.

We finished up with a discussion of outings that our lifegroup would be interested in doing, such as a tour of Huntington Gardens, a trip to the Grand Canyon, the upcoming Chinese New Year, and loads of other stuff. We also talked about stuff going on in our lives. Like Eric getting ready for fatherhood. And Liz’s upcoming trip to Puerto ..... Rico.

A YEAR AGO TODAY: I had a bad case of hiccups. After several hours, was finally medicated with thorazine, which gave some relief. No visitors were recorded.